Women in the Museum symposium

WOMEN IN THE MUSEUM XL: THE (MUSEUM’S) FUTURE IS FEMALE

The phrase ‘the future is female’ has resonated across activist and academic circles since the second feminist wave (1960s-1980s), gaining renewed interest from the 2010s onward. This raises the question: what could the future of gender-thinking look like within the walls of the museum? This fifth edition of the Women in the Museum conference series offers an opportunity to reflect on what we have built together as a museum and academic community, and, most importantly, to consider how gender- and women-focused research can be sustainably anchored in a rapidly changing world.

In the spirit of looking back and moving forward, we will explore how knowledge is passed between generations, delve into the complex relationship between museums and (feminist) activism, and engage with different approaches to reframing historical narratives. One of the key questions running through the program is how museums – especially those working with historical (e.g. Early Modern) collections – can actively engage in today’s gender discourses.

To mark the fifth anniversary of the Women in the Museum conference, this year’s edition will offer a two-day programme combining thought-provoking plenary talks and hands-on workshops. Together, these sessions aim to equip participants with concrete tools to help drive change in their own institutions and professional practices.

The PDF of the final program will be available soon

DAY 1: MONDAY 9 MARCH 2026

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE PATRIARCHY

The story of ‘the patriarchy’ is a powerful one. How do we begin to rewrite this foundational narrative? In her book The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule, Angela Saini explores how male dominance came to shape our societies and institutions, and how history itself offers alternative stories. This raises a pressing question for the museum field: how did our institutions become male-coded, and do alternatives exist? We will look at specific cases from museum professionals who are actively challenging this legacy from within the field.

Keynote by Angela Saini, journalist and Assistant Professor of Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Autor of The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule

Other speakers include:

• Charles Esche, former General Director at Van Abbe Museum (Eindhoven, the Netherlands)
• Maggie Greyson and Hillary Spencer, Futurists and Disruptive Thinkers

DAY 2: TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2026

LET’S CLAIM THE FUTURE

How can museums become engaging institutions ready for the future of (intersectional) gender-thinking? And what role can feminist activism – both within and beyond museum walls – play in this new phase? We will explore worldwide examples of museums and museum professionals who are actively rethinking their methods and approaches.

Keynote by Mark Miller, Artist, Cultural Producer and Former Head of Learning at Tate Britain (Londen, United Kingdom)

Other speakers include:

• Fatima Bintou Rassoul Sy, Curator and the Director of Programmes at RAW Material Company (Dakar, Senegal)
• Frederica van Dam, Curator at The Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (Ghent, Belgium)
• Margriet Schavemaker, the General Director at the Kunstmuseum (The Hague, the Netherlands)

WORKSHOPS ON 9 AND 10 MARCH

Whether through critical reflection, future thinking, creative writing, a lesson in activism, or embroidery, each workshop offers practical tools to help you bring the future of gender-thinking back to your own institution.

Please note: participants register for one workshop per day. The same set of workshops will be offered on both days of the symposium. More details about the workshops and how to register will be shared soon.

Workshops include participation of: Future and Disruptive Thinkers Hillary Spencer and Maggie Greyson, Artists Iris de Leeuw and Anouk Becker (Speesbooklookpak), Content Developer Rosemarie van der Tol (KossmanndeJong Exhibition Designers), Embroiderer Gerda Leeffers (Studio Koekkoek), Photographer Jona Lucia op de Weegh (Jonna Lucia Photography), Academics Alicia Cartagena García-Alcaraz and Rachel Esner (Universities of Murcia and Amsterdam), Journalists and Podcasters Hendrik Spiering and Mirjam van Zuidam (NRC Handelsblad), and Dutch feminist activists.

About women of the Rijksmuseum

Women in the Museum is an annual symposium series organized by the Rijksmuseum and part of the Women of the Rijksmuseum project, a large-scale research program aimed at improving the gender balance in the Rijksmuseum’s collection and presentation.

Image

Kinke Kooi, Female View, 2007.
Purchased with the support of the Knecht - Drenth Fund/Rijksmuseum Fund

WE THANK

Women of the Rijksmuseum is made possible by CHANEL, the Susi Zijderveld Fund, the Familie Krouwels Fund, the Machteld Vos & Willem Sijthoff Fund, the Heleen Dura van Oord Fund, the Kind Courage Monique Maarsen Fund, the Familie Staal Fund, the Karin van Leeuwen Fund, the Dreesmann-Beerkens Fund, the Sofronie Foundation, the Linne & Marijn Pijnenborg Fund, the Jolanda Degen Fund, the Lara Timmerman Fund, the Antoinette Rolloos Hueber Fund, the Hendrikje Crebolder Fund, Amy Novogratz & Mike Velings, the Femke Dijkhuis Fund, the Bianca van Galen Fund, the Haboldt-Pianetti Fund, Jenny Reynaerts, and the Women of the Rijksmuseum Fund.